Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program: Non-Medicaid Senior Housing Assistance

Page Reviewed / Updated - June 29, 2020

Program Description

The Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program (RCAP) is a state funded program, similar to assisted living, that provides financial support to elderly, blind, or disabled Indiana residents who cannot live alone. Eligible individuals must live in (or be willing to move into) residential care facilities or housing which is licensed by the Indiana State Department of Health and have an approved RCAP contract from the Division of Aging.

The financial assistance under this program may cover the cost of housing, food, and laundry. Select services, such as care coordination, may also be provided for those who need assistance, yet do not need the level of care required to live in a nursing home. As of the last update, there were a total of 32 residences, 14 county homes and 19 licensed residential facilities that participate in RCAP. (One residence is both a county home and a licensed residential facility). These homes and facilities, some of which have assisted living rooms, are found in the following 22 Indiana counties: Adams, Allen, Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Dekalb, Delaware, Floyd, Hendricks, Howard, Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Marion, Rush, St. Joseph, Tippecano, and Wabash.

Eligibility Guidelines

In order to meet eligibility requirements for the Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program, the following requirements must be met: An individual must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be at least 65 years old
• Be blind
• Be disabled

Other eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Must be an Indiana resident
• Must be living in or moving to an approved and licensed housing community
• Must not meet the functional criteria established by Medicaid needed to live in a nursing home. In other words, the individual must have care needs on par with those in independent living or assisted living communities, not on par with those in nursing homes. Persons who have greater needs may wish to explore the Aged and Disabled Waiver. 
• Must be on Medicaid or receive SSI. This means one’s assets and income cannot be greater than current Medicaid guidelines. As of 2020, the income limit for single seniors in Indiana living outside of nursing homes is $2,349 / month ($28,188 / year), which equates to 300% of the current Federal Benefit Rate (FBR).
• The countable asset limit for a single applicant is $2,000, which includes cash, bank accounts, IRAs, stocks, and bonds. Normally an applicant’s home does not count towards countable assets as long as the individual lives in the home and his /her the equity interest in the home is not more than $595,000. However, since this program requires the individual to live in the program's housing, his / her home's equity interest value would be considered an asset unless a spouse remained living on the premises (or the program recipients expresses an “intent” to return to the home). In addition, non-applicant spouses are permitted to retain assets up to $128,640.

Benefits and Services

Indiana residents who are eligible for the Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program receive financial assistance in the form of an approved daily allowance, which is set up by the Division of Aging. This aids in covering the cost of housing, meals, and laundry at RCAP approved housing facilities. This may include care coordination for those who need a higher level of care. Care coordination might include medication reminders, assessing needs and setting goals, sharing patient information with pertinent parties, and coordinating appointments. 

How to Apply / Learn More

For more information about the Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program (RCAP), visit the Division of Aging site under the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. To download an application for this program, click here.  You can also contact your local Area Agency on Aging for additional information.

A wait list may exist for this program.